Downtown Salt Lake City An Audio Tour

Salt Lake City was grown out of the desert. Large streets and grand ambitions were plotted by pioneers who’d crossed America to get here. On this self-guided audio tour, you’ll find out how a tight-knit religious community transformed an empty valley into a sophisticated city, and see the architecture, art, and folklore they left behind. The tour begins at the Great Salt Lake Base and Meridian, the “Point Zero” of the city. You’ll head south along Main Street, past the cast-iron facade of ZCMI – America’s first department store – and beneath the City Creek Bridge, still debated by locals as either urban masterstroke or streetlife killer. I’ll point out Temple Plaza, where 91 international flags hang, and Salt Lake Temple’s reflection pond. The tour ends at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, the former Hotel Utah, which hosted every U.S. President from Taft to Reagan and still serves the city’s most famous dinner rolls.

1. 1

   Salt Lake Utah Temple

   Pass by

   Marvel at this iconic granite spire rising dramatically above Temple Square, the spiritual and architectural centrepiece of Salt Lake City and one of the most recognisable religious buildings in the United States. Admire the reflection pond that mirrors the temple's towering facade and discover how the building's mirrors were sourced from the now-demolished Amussen Jewelry Building just blocks away.

2. 2

   Temple Square

   Pass by

   Walk through this expansive ten-acre plaza, where 91 international flags line the paths and the grandeur of pioneer ambition is written into every carefully planned detail. Explore the grounds where the founders of Salt Lake City laid out their vision for a sophisticated religious city rising from an empty desert valley.

3. 3

   City Creek Center

   Pass by

   Stroll through this striking modern shopping precinct, where a retractable roof, choreographed fountains, and a reintroduced trout stream sit alongside carefully reassembled storefronts rescued from the 1800s. Marvel at how this ambitious development has woven the city's pioneer heritage into a thoroughly contemporary urban space.

4. 4

   Salt Lake Tabernacle

   Pass by

   Admire this remarkable domed assembly hall, completed in 1867 and home to one of the most acoustically extraordinary interiors in America. Enjoy the serene atmosphere of a building where the Tabernacle Choir has been broadcasting its famous performances for over 5,000 episodes.

5. 5

   Stop 5

   Pass by

   Pass by this beloved downtown landmark, a cast-iron street clock that has marked the passing of time on Main Street for well over a century. Enjoy the charm of this enduring piece of street furniture, a quiet survivor of the dramatic transformations that have reshaped the blocks around it.

6. 6

   Abravanel Hall

   Pass by

   Marvel at this elegant concert hall, home to the Utah Symphony and one of the finest performance venues in the American West. Step inside to admire Dale Chihuly's breathtaking 1,000-piece glass sculpture, sold to the city on the condition that it remain permanently and freely visible to all.

7. 7

   Church History Museum

   Pass by

   Explore this fascinating museum tracing the history of the Latter-day Saint movement from its earliest days on the American frontier to its growth into a global religious community. Walk through exhibits that bring to life the stories of the pioneers who crossed a continent to build this city from nothing in the desert.

8. 8

   Stop 8

   Pass by

   Pass beneath this striking bronze eagle, originally erected in 1859 to mark the entrance to Brigham Young's private estate and now one of downtown Salt Lake City's most distinctive landmarks. Marvel at how this grand ceremonial gate has survived the city's relentless growth and still commands attention above one of its busiest intersections.

9. 9

   Stop 9

   Pass by

   Stop at this marker commemorating Salt Lake City's first Social Hall, built in 1852 as the pioneer community's first dedicated space for theatre, music, and public celebration. Discover how the arts flourished in this remote desert settlement far earlier than most visitors would ever expect.

10. 10

    Church Office Building

    Pass by

    Admire this imposing granite office building, the administrative heart of one of the world's fastest-growing religious organisations. Pass by its grand facade and appreciate how this quietly authoritative building reflects the remarkable institutional ambition of the community that transformed an empty valley into a sophisticated city.

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.